How a Round of Roulette Works
- Get your chips. Roulette chips carry no printed value, so the dealer places a token on your stack to show what that colour is worth. Online, your balance works as your chips.
- Place your bets. Put chips on the numbers or sections of the layout you want to back, within the table limits.
- The dealer spins. The wheel is spun and the ball sent round it. You can keep betting while the ball circles, until the dealer calls “no more bets”.
- The ball lands. It settles in one numbered pocket, and that number decides every bet on the table.
- The dolly goes down. The dealer places a marker, called the dolly or crown, on the winning number. While it is on the layout, nobody may place, collect or remove bets.
- Bets are settled. Losing bets are cleared and winning bets are paid at the fixed odds shown below. Once the marker comes off, betting opens for the next spin.
Online the sequence is the same, but you click to place chips; at live dealer tables a countdown replaces the dealer’s call. Curious about the job? Read our guide to becoming a roulette croupier.
The Wheel and Table Layout
A roulette wheel has the numbers 1 to 36 plus green zero pockets. A European or French wheel has a single zero, 37 pockets in all. An American wheel adds a double zero (00), for 38 pockets.
The table layout mirrors the wheel: the numbers 1 to 36 sit in a grid of three columns and twelve rows, with the zeros at the top and the outside bets around the edge.
Inside Bets and Payouts
Inside bets are placed on specific numbers in the grid. They pay more because they are less likely to win.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 number | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17 to 1 |
| Street | 3 numbers in a horizontal row | 11 to 1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers meeting at one corner | 8 to 1 |
| Six line | 6 numbers in two adjacent rows | 5 to 1 |
| First five (American only) | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | 6 to 1 |
Outside Bets and Payouts
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers around the edge of the layout and win more often, at lower payouts.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Dozen | 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36 | 2 to 1 |
| Column | 12 numbers in one vertical column | 2 to 1 |
| Red or black | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| Odd or even | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| Low (1–18) or high (19–36) | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
Zero is not red, black, odd, even, low or high, so these bets do not win when it lands. For the chance of winning each bet, see our roulette odds and payouts guide. The payouts above match those published by Wizard of Odds, RouletteVision’s sister site, as well as New Jersey’s roulette regulations and the Venetian’s published rules.
European vs American vs French Roulette
| Version | Zeros | Pockets | What happens on zero | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 0 | 37 | Even-money bets lose, unless the table applies La Partage or En Prison | 2.70% |
| French | 0 | 37 | La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets | 2.70%, or about 1.35–1.39% on even-money bets with La Partage or En Prison |
| American | 0 and 00 | 38 | Even-money bets lose | 5.26% (7.89% on the first-five bet) |
If you have the choice, play French or European roulette: the extra 00 on the American wheel roughly doubles the house edge.
What Happens When the Ball Lands on Zero
A straight-up bet on zero pays 35 to 1 like any other number. Outside bets do not include zero, and even-money bets lose on zero unless the table applies one of two French rules:
- La Partage: you lose only half of your even-money stake; the other half is returned. The house edge on these bets falls to 1.35%.
- En Prison: your even-money stake is held for the next spin. If that bet then wins, the stake is returned with no winnings; if it loses, the stake is lost. The house edge is about 1.39%.
Grouped together, the two rules lower the house edge on even-money bets to about 1.35–1.39%, compared with 2.70% without them. Check which rule, if any, a table uses before you sit down.
American Roulette Rules
American roulette uses the same bets and payouts as European roulette, plus the double zero pocket. The 00 lifts the house edge on every bet to 5.26%, apart from one extra bet.
That bet is the first five (sometimes called the top line): a single chip covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, paying 6 to 1. It exists only on double-zero layouts, and its house edge is 7.89%, the worst on the table. It is the one bet to avoid. For more on this version, see our American roulette guide.
Racetrack (Call) Bets
French and many European tables add a racetrack: an oval showing the numbers in wheel order, used to bet on sections of the wheel.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Section of the wheel |
|---|---|---|
| Voisins du zéro | 17 | The 17 numbers around zero, from 22 to 25 |
| Tiers du cylindre | 12 | The third of the wheel opposite zero, 27 to 33 |
| Orphelins | 8 | The two groups left over: 17, 34, 6 and 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 |
| Jeu zéro | 7 | 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15 |
| Neighbours | 5 | Any number plus the two on each side of it on the wheel |
For another bet that spreads across the layout, see the Red Snake Bet.
Table Limits and Etiquette Basics
- Each table displays a minimum and maximum bet, and you must stay within them.
- Don’t place, change or withdraw bets after the dealer calls “no more bets”.
- Wait for the dealer to clear the table and lift the marker before betting on the next spin.
- Roulette chips have no printed value, so ask the dealer to change them before you leave the table.
For chip handling, timing and disputes at a physical table, see our roulette table etiquette guide.
Roulette is entertainment with a built-in house edge, not a way to earn money; read our responsible gambling advice before you play.
Roulette Rules FAQ
How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?
A European or French wheel has 37 pockets (1–36 and a single 0). An American wheel has 38 (1–36, 0 and 00).
What happens if the ball lands on zero?
Straight-up bets on zero win 35 to 1. Outside bets do not include zero, and even-money bets lose unless the table uses La Partage or En Prison.
What is the easiest roulette bet for beginners?
Even-money bets such as red or black are the simplest: they pay 1 to 1 and cover 18 numbers.
Which roulette version has the best rules for players?
French roulette with La Partage or En Prison, where the house edge on even-money bets is about 1.35–1.39%. European roulette is next at 2.70%, and American roulette is the least favourable at 5.26%.
What is the first-five bet in American roulette?
It is a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 that pays 6 to 1. It carries a 7.89% house edge, higher than any other bet on the table.
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